| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| Bathroom Window Code | 11/17/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: I recently had an addition put on the back of our house with a new master bath and new Double pane ...
A: Per the 2006 IRC, Chapter 3, Section 308.4 "Hazardous Locations, item 5: Glazing in doors and ...
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| Light and ventilation | 11/13/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: Older versions of the UBC had a limitation for overhangs at fenestration that could be counted as ...
A: I couldn't find anything either. The only reference I did find was in the 2007 Energy Code, Title ...
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| Code in NYS | 11/12/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: I own a townhouse that is zoned a 2 bedroom. There are 2 bedrooms on the top floor. L/R, Kit, D/R ...
A: It's almost impossible to know the codes in ever State or area so for the exact answer, you would ...
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| Windows | 11/11/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: Do you know any pros/cons of push-out awning windows vs crank out? Marvin makes both, and the ...
A: Not really a code related question. Both Milgard and Marvin are major players in the window ...
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| Past Construction without a Permit | 11/10/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: I was wanting some guidance in a situation that involves my grandmother's house that I am to ...
A: The most definitive answer will come from the local building department. They can make you tear it ...
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| asbestos siding | 11/4/2009 | Jacob Persky |
Q: The house next door to me is being demolished in a few days. It has asbestos siding. The village ...
A: The National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) is the federal regulation which ...
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| who is resposible? | 11/4/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: What is the proper procedure when building a home at the bottom of a hill? Who is responsible for ...
A: This is more of a legal question and I'm not a lawyer. My opinion only though there is some ...
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| Commercial stair tread & risers | 11/3/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: What are the minimum and maximum allowances on both tread length and riser height?
A: Yes there are a bunch of regs about about stairs. 10 inch minimum for the tread and 7-3/4 max height ...
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| electric dryer venting | 11/1/2009 | Bob Spermo |
Q: My remodeling contractor wants to vent my electric dryer by connecting it to the first floor powder ...
A: Yvonne, Not only is it a bad idea to have your dryer vent connected to the bathroom fan exhaust ...
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| Fart Fan Duct Code | 10/27/2009 | Fred Weldin |
Q: Fredericksburg, VA: Rebuilding a house struck by fire. The fart fan is 3", hard pipe running to a ...
A: Roger: Fred
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| occupancy load | 10/23/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: can i know the occupancy load for indoor play area for kids .
A: This is more of a commercial code issue. I deal mainly with residential codes and all my reference ...
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| Tempered Glass | 10/22/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: I am building and inclosing a porch. I have a 36" door that is going in and next to the door I have ...
A: The window you speak of is 10.66 Sq Ft. Anything over 9 Sq Ft, less that 5 ft from the floor and ...
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| Exterior door swing outward - code? | 10/22/2009 | Bob Spermo |
Q: I have an exterior door that leads to a 3 season room off the kitchen. The curent doors swings into ...
A: Dan, I do not know the Mass code but if you follow the International Residential Code I feel ...
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| Window restriction | 10/21/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: We are looking at moving into a retirement community on the the floor of a building. We have ...
A: The floor level doesn't change the answer. It applies no matter what floor. If they are impact ...
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| Window restriction | 10/21/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: We are looking at moving into a retirement community on the the floor of a building. We have ...
A: Most codes deal with closed windows, requiring the windows you describe to have impact resistant ...
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| Door Swing | 10/18/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: Recently landlord reversed door swing in apt,now the door swings out into the hall prior to stairs ...
A: He may have done this for fire safety reasons. As long as the door does not swing out OVER the ...
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| ADA compliance in Apartments | 10/16/2009 | Sharon Toji |
Q: I am considering the purchase of an apartment building as an investment. I would like to ask about ...
A: I would suggest going to HUD and asking for the Fair Housing Guide, which I believe they make ...
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| Negative air and PCM & TEM testing | 10/16/2009 | Jacob Persky |
Q: I'm having both PCM and TEM testing in my home after an asbestos abatement job is completed. Is ...
A: The negative air machine should be left on during the testing and until clearance is achieved. This ...
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| Locked doors on occupied building. | 10/15/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: I am the heath and safety specialist where I work. An employee ask me if I could tell him something. ...
A: Not every door must be unlocked but, there must be at least one (or more, depending on the occupancy ...
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| Asbestos and Roofing Removal | 10/14/2009 | Jacob Persky |
Q: I have an approximately 200 sq ft. built up roof that I would like to replace. It is two layers. ...
A: A PLM lab test for asbestos is quite affordable at only $8 per material for a 1-day turnaround time. ...
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| windows | 10/11/2009 | Bob Spermo |
Q: some one told me that any replacement window in stalled by law has to be equipped with limit lock ...
A: Russell, The 2009 International Residential Code calls for newly constructed windows to have ...
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| Insulation of crawl space | 10/9/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: We have a sunken living room with a crawl space underneath. We would like to insulate the crawl ...
A: There are many different types of insulation available. The most common is fiberglass. The issue is ...
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| braille on building signs | 10/7/2009 | Sharon Toji |
Q: When contracting for Braille signs to be placed in a new building is there a standard that dictates ...
A: I'll give you the rules for braille as they appear in ADAAG (Federal), as they appear in California ...
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| Asbestos flue | 10/5/2009 | Jacob Persky |
Q: My oil-fired boiler needs replacing due to corrosion. It has an asbestos cement flue rising through ...
A: If the flue is in good condition physically and there is no need for repair from a performance ...
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| venting a furnace | 10/3/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: I am just renting a house and noticed that the return air is coming from the crawl space. The land ...
A: Your heating guy is right, it's not to code. It hasn't been for many years to my knowledge. ...
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| Asbestos Ceiling Tiles | 10/2/2009 | Jacob Persky |
Q: We are thinking of purchasing a house with 12x12 (possibly slightly smaller?) ceiling tiles. They ...
A: 12" glue-on or splined ceiling tiles such as you are describing can have asbestos in them. However, ...
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| Bathroom code - three issues. | 9/30/2009 | Bob Spermo |
Q: We just moved into an apartment. The bathroom is immediately adjacent to the kitchen. The door ...
A: Mark, I am not sure where you read a switch cannot be within 48" of a tub/shower but it was not ...
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| Bathroom code - three issues. | 9/29/2009 | Bob Spermo |
Q: We just moved into an apartment. The bathroom is immediately adjacent to the kitchen. The door ...
A: Mark, Before I answer your specific questions - the building codes are requirements that set ...
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| concrete footings | 9/29/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: I am looking into adding a 2 story addition onto my home in Colorado. I would like to pour a slab ...
A: This is something that will eventually need to be signed off by an engineer. There are a number of ...
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| drywall | 9/29/2009 | Bob Spermo |
Q: I am helping a neighbor remodel his basement. We have passed all inspections and are ready to ...
A: Bob, Most quality builders use 5/8" drywall on the ceilings because it helps to prevent future ...
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| Entrance Slope | 9/28/2009 | Bob Spermo |
Q: I have an addition being built onto my home. The addition is adjoining a garage, connected by a ...
A: Joe, The only reference to a slope in the code is section R311.6 Ramps R311.6.1 Maximum ...
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| safety glass | 9/27/2009 | Bob Spermo |
Q: In Minnesota and/or South Dakota is it building code to put safety (i.e. tempered) glass in a window ...
A: Curt, I do not know the state rules but I feel certain that they go by the International ...
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| Surface mount electrical panel | 9/25/2009 | Bob Spermo |
Q: Can a surface mount electrical panel be installed on tar paper?
A: Josie, I do not know of any code that would prohibit the installation of a service panel on top ...
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| Building codes for outside stairs | 9/18/2009 | Bob Spermo |
Q: What are the codes for stairs leading up to your front door? My stairs are dangerous! They are ...
A: Jessica, Max riser height 7 3/4" - max 3/8" difference between risers Min tread width 10" - ...
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| Number of Bathroom on commercial place | 9/15/2009 | Bob Spermo |
Q: we are projecting a Party Place finish out (1,210 inside footage), can you tell us how many ...
A: Gustavo, I am not an expert in commercial building codes. The book that would apply is the ...
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| Kitchen Exhaust | 9/15/2009 | Bob Spermo |
Q: In a new multiple family residential building in NYC, specifically Brooklyn, is there a requirement ...
A: Mel, The first thing to do is check with your local code authority to see what their rules are. ...
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| tile code | 9/14/2009 | Bob Spermo |
Q: is there a building code for tiles over the bath? I'm instaling a new bath in new home and tiles ...
A: Les, If there is a shower head in the bath tub area section 307.2 of the 2006 International ...
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| How to correctly test a hot water tank | 9/11/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: I have a problem with a building inspector that is claiming our hot water tank if letting off to ...
A: Not knowing what instrument he is using, I have no idea if he is following the proper procedure. As ...
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| How to correctly test a hot water tank | 9/11/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: I have a problem with a building inspector that is claiming our hot water tank if letting off to ...
A: Not sure where you are but it sounds to me like the inspector is far exceeding the scope of their ...
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| Tamper Resistant receptacles | 9/4/2009 | Dana Bostick |
Q: What is the NEC code for tamper resistant receptacles? Are these required as part of an under ...
A: Sorry for the delay. I was out of town doing some training and away from my reference materials.. ...
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